Sprocket wheel construction



Dec. 25, 1951 s. M. MERCIER 2,579,749

SPROCKET WHEEL CONSTRUCTION I Original Filed Sept. 1, 1945 2SHEETS--SHEET 1 //v l/ENTo/e STANLEY M. MERCIEE,

Dec. 25, 1951 s. M. MERCIER SPROCKET WHEEL CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETSSHEET 2Original Filed Sept. 1, 1943 vE/w/To/Q STAN LEY M. MEQCI ER,

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 SPROCKET WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Stanley M. Mercier,Bexley, Ohio, assignor to The J effrey' Manufacturing Company, acorporation of Ohio Original application September 1, 1943, Serial No.

500,799. Divided and this application November 23, 1946, Serial No.711,909.

June 12, 1944 In Canada 2 Claims. (01. 2638) My invention relates tosprocket wheels and more particularly to the construction of sprocketwheels adapted for use in elevators or conveyers.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved thermal compensatingsprocket Wheel structure particularly adapted to carry hot chainelements of a conveyer apparatus constructed to convey hot material suchas hot clay used in the cracking of petroleum.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved sprocket wheelstructure particularly adapted for use in an elevator or conveyeroperating under conditions of heat in combination with a shaft which iscooled.

In carrying out the foregoing object it is a further object of myinvention to provide an improved sprocket wheel adapted to be carriedupon a shaft which is cooled wherein provision is made providing forexpansion of the rim thereof with respect to the hub or central portionthereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thermalcompensating sprocket wheel having removable chain engaging teeth.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved removabletooth adapted to be secured upon a conveyer sprocket wheel.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of an elevator or conveyerincorporating the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the head portion of the conveyer shown in Fig.1, the view being taken on line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, fragmentary sectional view showing one end ofthe head shaft and head sprocket and associated mechanism of theelevator or conveyer; and

Fig. 4 is a view of a tooth and associated parts of the head sprocket.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No.500,799, filed September 1, 1943, entitled Elevator, now Patent No.2,491,899, dated December 20, 1949.

The conveyer or elevator illustrated as a whole in Fig. 1 of thedrawings comprises a vertical or upwardly extending tower or main frame20 which is generally rectangular in cross section be, for example,mounted on a poured concrete base sufiiciently sunk in the ground toprovide a firm foundation. At their tops the channel members 21 arerigidly connected together by side I-beams 23 and cross channels 24, allof said structural members El, 23 and 2&- being rigidly connectedtogether. Along the sides, each of the two front and rear channelmembers 2| are connected by one or more diagonal braces 25 as well ashorizontal angle members 26. Spaced moment members 2? connect the frontand rear pairs of channels 2!.

Mounted upon the I-beams 23 at the top of the main frame 28 is a pair ofspaced bearing boxes 29 which support horizontally extending head shaft38 of a head assembly 3i that includes a pair of head sprocket wheels 32which support and drive a pair of endless chain elements 33 of a bucketelevator or conveyer mechanism indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1..Extending between the two chain elements 33 and carried thereby is aplurality of material receiving buckets, not shown, that are rigidlyattached adjacent their sides to the inner side bars of the chains 33 byappropriate brackets.

At the foot or bottom of the tower or main frame 20 there is a footshaft 3? which is part of a foot shaft assembly 38 which includes a pairof spaced wheels 39 that receive and carry the two endless chainelements 33 of the conveyer apparatus. Foot shaft assembly 38 is mountedfor floating guided vertical movement and is carried by a box-like frame34 with which there is associated a counter-balancing mechanism 35 forcounter-balancing weight of the box-like frame and shaft assembly.

Supported by the main frame 2!! and generally within the structuralmembers thereof is a totally and at each of the four corners includes avertical enclosing casing or housing 4B which includes as its threeprincipal parts a head section 4|, a foot section 42 and a plurality ofintermediate sections 43. All of these sections are preferably formed atleast in part of insulating material so that the enclosing housing orcasing is insulated. Also the head section 4i is provided with adischarge chute or spout 44 by which the material is discharged from theconveyer.

The foot part or section 42 of the housing or casing 40 includes a feedchute 45 by which hot clay or other material to be elevated is deliveredpreferably directly into the buckets at the bottom of the feed run ofthe conveyer mechanism. The foot section or part 42 also includesstructure providing gas tight dust and heat seals for the foot shaft 31which is mounted for substantially free or floating vertical movementthrough a limited range so as to compensate for changes in the lengthsof the chain elements 33, particularly under the influence oftemperature changes.

Attention is now directed to mechanism that traction wheel 37 with whicha mechanically V operated brake device M; (Fig. l) co-operates. Thedrive sprocket 40 is driven from an appropriate motor and speed reducer49 through an appropriate chain and sprocket or equivalent drive 50. Themotor and speed reducing mechanism 49 is mounted on a platform formed onrearwardly extending portions of the I-beams 23.

Attention is now directed particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings whichillustrates one end of the head sprocket assembly3i, one of the bearingboxes 29 and certain associated apparatus, it being understood that thestructure is duplicated on the other side of the elevator.

Mounted in spaced relation on the head shaft 30 are the head or drivesprockets 32, there being one foreach of the chains 33, as previouslypointed'out, said sprockets 32 preferably being of similar construction.Each sprocket 32 includes a plate steel'center ring as preferably keyedand welded to the shaft 30 and forming a hub. The additional diameter ofthe wheel 32 is formed by a pair of concentric rings 99 and H30, thefirst being shrunk onto the center ring or hub 98 and the second beingin turn shrunk onto the ring .99. In building up this wheel, the ring 99is heated to a high temperature so that it can be forced or slipped ontothe ring 38 and when it cools to atmospheric temperature it will beunder tension.

Thereafter, the edges of the rings as and 09 are preferably weldedtogether by welds I lI which may be either continuous or at spacedintervals along the periphery thereof. In a similar manner the ring I36is shrunk on the ring 99 and attached thereto by welds I02 similar tothe welds EU I. The ring N30 is also under tension at atmospherictemperature.

As a consequence of the above structure, the wheel 32 can expand orcontract with variations in temperature without causing damage theretoand at the same time the structure is such that the parts'are heldtogether both by friction and by welded connections. Because shaft 30 iscooled, as hereinafter described, the temperature of the wheel rim,which frequently reaches 1000 degreesF will be much higher than theshaft so within the housing 40, is embedded in a heavy drum I05 ofinsulating material which is preferably made up of sections which aresplit along a plane passing through the axis of the shaft 30,

transversely of itself. The drum I05 is also made in sections, therebeing at least one transverse section between the two sprockets 32 andtwo sections, one outside each of said sprockets, these transversesections being connected together with tie rods I06. Similar tie rodsI03 or tie bolts not illustrated, may interconnect the sections of drumI0,5 alon g their plane of severance parallel the axis of shaft 30.

7 As clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the end of drum I05is closely positioned with respect to the insulating material lining I01of the head section ii of casing 40. The opposite ends of head shaft 30extend through close fitting openings in the side walls of the headsectionl li and a stuffing box I03 is provided between each of said sidewalls and said shaft 30 which acts as a dirt and heat seal. A supportfor opposite ends of the shaft 30 is provided by' a pair of selfaligning bearings, one of which is seen at I09. Said bearing I09 ispreferably babbitt or bronze lined and is only semi-cylindrical in shapeand supports the bottom portion of the shaft 30, since the load on theshaft 30 is always in a downward direction. The bearing I09 is enclosedand protected by the bearing box 29 which pro.-

vides a lubrication well. Oil drip rings IIO are provided on shaft 30.

It is important in elevators or conveyers of the type illustrated thatthe temperature of the wheel shafts be controlled because in spite ofall of the insulation provided on the shaft assemblies temperatureduring operation of the conveyer.

' Mounted on the outer periphery of the ring l 63 is a plurality ofremovable sprocket teeth I63 and the bottom or root of each tooth I03 isprovided with an arcuate groove which receives the I04 preferably beingwelded at one or two spots to the root of tooth I03 after the parts areassembled. To remove a tooth I03 the welded spot is burned off.

To protect the major portion of the two wheels 32 from the hightemperature within the casing 49 and also to reduce the transfer of heattherefrom through the shaft 30 and to its supporting bearings, theprincipal portion of said sprocket 32, including the rings 98 and 99 andpart of the ring I00 as well as the major portion of the shaft theshafts will become quite hot unless they are properly cooled. It isbecause of the cooling of the shaft 33 and the consequent largetemperature differential between it and the rim of is formed as a hollowshaft. It will be under-e stood that the cooling mechanism is duplicatedat each end of the shaft 30. Extending into the bore I2I a'pipe I22, theouter periphery of which is spaced from the inner periphery of the boreI2i. At its outer end the pipe I22 is provided with a fitting I23 whichacts in the nature of a bearing. The fitting I23 is so constructed thata feed water elbow I24 connected thereto, will be effectively connectedto the interior of the pipe 22 and a water discharge elbow I25 iseffectively connected to a passageway formedbetween the exterior of thepipe I22 and the cylindrical surface provided by the bore I2I. Thepacking between the fitting I23 which is stationary and the rotatingshaft 30 is provided by packing ring I25 and associated packing gland.2? which is attached by screws to the end of the shaft 30. The fittingI23 is mounted on a stationary bracket I28 which may be connectedcentral portion of the shaft 30 and supports the inner ends of the pipesI22 associated with opposite ends of said shaft 30. It may be mentionedthat axial movement of the pipes I 22 is prevented since the fittingsI23 to which said pipes in opposite ends of the shaft 30 arescrew-threaded, are held by the above mentioned stationary brackets I23.Filler rod BI is slightly smaller in diameter than the bore I2I and ispinned at its center to the shaft 3!] for rotation therewith.

To provide a thorough scouring turbulent flow of water in its returnpath from the holes I29 to the discharge elbow I25, I provide wire helixI32 which is preferably rigidly attached to the exterior surface of thepipe I22 and is closely adjacent to the cylindrical surface of the boreIZI, though slightly spaced from said surface, since the shaft 30rotates while the wire helix I32 is stationary. It is evident thatcooling water introduced by way of the feed elbow 124 will flow throughthe fitting 923 into the pipe 522 and out of the radial openings orholes 52!? and thence will return by a greatly elongated and helicalpath of reduced cross-sectional area to provide What is known asturbulent flow, during which it will scour the internal surface of theadjacent portion of the shaft 30 provided by the bore I2 2, ultimatelyflowing through the fitting I23 and the discharge elbow I25. Thiselongated helical path together with the scouring action will insureproper cooling of the shaft 30 and through it the bearin I09 so as toprevent burning out of said bearing and undue heating of the lubricatingoil for it, which is within the bearing box 29.

In the operation of the conveyor or elevator hot material such as clayor fullers earth is fed to the feed chute 45 and by it directed into thebuckets of the conveyer mechanism as they travel upwardly from the footshaft assembly 38 along their working or elevating run. As the bucketstravel over the head shaft 3i they discharge into the discharge chute 44and the material flows therethrough and is discharged from the elevatorat the top thereof. Provision has been made for free verticalcounter-balanced movement of the foot shaft, which movement may becaused by differences in temperature within the casing or housing t0.Furthermore, the head sprocket wheels for the two strands of chain 33have been especially consrtucted to take care of differences intemperature adjacent the outer rims thereof as compared with the hubs orportions thereof attached to the shaft 30.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have providedan improved thermal compensating sprocket assembly and wheel thereforwherein provision is made for an extreme temperature differentialbetween the outer rim of the wheel and the cooled hub portion thereofwhich may be cooled, for example, through an internally cooledsupporting shaft. It will also be obvious that I have provided animproved conveyer wheel having removable sprocket teeth thereon and thatthe sprocket teeth are secured to the outer rim of the wheel throughroot members that form an arcuate slot between them for receiving therim of the wheel and through which there are aligned openings forreceiving a fastening or securingpin that may be pressed therethroughand permanently fixed therein by welding to one or both root members ofthe tooth. It will be seen that the separate teeth of each sprocketwheel 32 co-operate to form a segmented outer or toothed peripheralportion or rim that will not interfere with the thermal compensatingfeatures of the Wheel and should the teeth become worn they may bereplaced readily by removing the pins I04.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and Iwish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A driving member for a conveyer adapted to convey hot materialincludinga shaft adapted to operate at a relatively low temperature, athermal compensating sprocket wheel rigidly supported upon said shaftadapted to drive hot chain elements of the conveyer, said thermalcompensating sprocket wheel including a hub member rigidly secured tosaid shaft and a plurality of concentric ring members carried by saidhub, said concentric ring members being under tension at atmospherictemperature, sprocket teeth carried by the outer of said concentricrings each tooth having in its bottom a groove which receives said outerring, the tooth thereby having root parts on opposite sides of saidouter ring, means including pins extending tightly through alignedopenings in said root parts and outer ring tightly attaching said teethto said outer ring, and insulatmg material on said shaft embedding saidwheels except for said outer concentric rings.

2. A QIlVlZlg member for a conveyer adapted to convey hot materialincluding a shaft adapted to operate at a relatlvely low temperature, athermal compensating sprocket wheel rigidly supported upon said shaftadapted to drive hot chain elements or the conveyer, said thermalcompensating sprocket wheel including a hub member rigidly secured tosaid shaft and a plurality of concentric ring members carried by saidhub, all of said concentric ring members being under tension atatmospheric temperature, sprocket teeth carried by the outer of saidconcentric rings each tooth having in its bottom a groove which receivessaid outer ring, the tooth thereby having root parts on opposite sidesof said ring, and means ineludingpins extending tightly through alignedopenings in said root parts and outer ring tightly attaching said teethto said outer ring.

SiANLEY M. MERCIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 221,879 Torrey Nov. 18, 1879784,544 Brinton Mar. 14, 1905 787,801 Stapf Apr. 18, 1905 846,529 UngerMar. 12, 1907 2,188,025 Weiss Jan. 23, 1940 2,231,427 Larsh Feb. 11,1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,706 Great Britain Aug. 11,1896

